A better understanding of the word Christian

………….. By Maya Angelou.......



When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,m Now I'm found and forgiven."



When I say... "I am a Christian", I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble And need Christ to be my guide.



When I say... "I am a Christian", I'm not trying to be strong. I'm
professing that I'm weak And need His strength to carry on.



When I say... "I am a Christian", I'm not bragging of success. I'm
admitting I have failed And need God to clean my mess.



When I say... "I am a Christian", I'm not claiming to be perfect, My
flaws are far too visible. But, God believes I am worth it.


When I say... "I am a Christian", I still feel the sting of pain. I
have my share of heartaches. So I call upon His name.



When I say... "I am a Christian", I'm not holier than thou, I'm just
a simple sinner. Who received God's good grace, somehow!

HATER as explained by MAYA ANGELOU

A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all their

time trying to make you look small so they can look tall. They are
very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever good enough!
When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters...




That's why you have to be careful with whom you share your blessings
and your dreams, because some folk can't handle seeing you blessed...
It's dangerous to be like somebody else... If God wanted you to be
like somebody else, He would have given you what He gave them! Right?


You never know what people have gone through to get what they have...
The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they
don't know my story...




If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can
rest assured that the water bill is higher there too!


We've all got some haters among us!


Some people envy you because you can:
a) Have a relationship with God
b) Light up a room when you walk in
c) Start your own business
d) Tell a man / woman to hit the curb (if he / she isn't about the right thing)
e) Raise your children without both parents being in the home


Haters can't stand to see you happy.
Haters will never want to see you succeed.


Most of our haters are people who are supposed to be on our side.
How do you handle your undercover haters? You can handle these haters by:


1. Knowing who you are & who your true friends are
*(VERY IMPORTANT!!)


2. Having a purpose to your life: Purpose does not mean having a job.. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled.


A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be.
Your purpose is not defined by what others think about you.


3. By remembering what you have is by divine prerogative and not human manipulation.
Fulfill your dreams! You only have one life to live...when its your time to leave this earth, you 'want' to be able to say, 'I've lived my life and fulfilled 'my' dreams,... Now I'm ready to go HOME!
When God gives you favor, you can tell your haters, 'Don't look at me....Look at Who is in charge of me...'

THAT'S GOD

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel
like doing something nice for someone you care for? THAT'S GOD talking
to you through the Holy Spirit.
Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you
to talk to? THAT'S GOD wanting you to talk to Him.

Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask
for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been
cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen
something you needed, but couldn't afford? THAT'S GOD knowing the
desires of your heart.

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it was
going to get better, how the hurting would stop, how the pain would
ease, but now you look back on it...

THAT'S GOD passing us through tribulation to see a brighter day.

BEING IN LOVE

Well, I told THE LORD that I love Him today. And He said to me, "How

much do you love me? You haven't told anyone how good I've been to you.

You haven't shared how perfect my love is. You haven't spread the good

news that I am always there to listen to your problems.

You haven't told your family how I helped you pay your bills when you

didn't have a high paying job, or how I got you a better one. You

haven't shared with anyone how I took away that addiction that would

have cost you not only your job, but also that man/woman that was just

what you were looking for. So how much do you really love me?"


So, I said I would share with my friends and family (for starters) just

how wonderful, perfect, understanding, patient, loving, unselfish,

considerate and forgiving GOD really is. He has blessed me with a family

that loves me and friends that I can confide in. But even more than

that, He has saved me from destruction I couldn't even see coming.


He gave to me the peace of knowing Him, and He has never broken a

promise. Truly He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. And I

stand in my stadium today to tell to you all,


"I LOVE THE LORD!"

Holy Alphabet

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
X-alting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
 

The mayonnaise jar

This is so true and helps to prioritize life. We all need to be
reminded of this.

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,

Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class.And had some items in front of him.When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.He then asked the students, if the jar was full.They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.Of course, the sand filled up everything else.He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a
unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.The golf balls are the important things - family,children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions.Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.The sand is everything else --The small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.The same goes for life.If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,You will never have room for the things that are important to you.So...Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.Play With your children.Take time to get medical checkups.Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.The professor smiled.'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
Please share this with other "Golf Balls" I just did......

HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE

A minute read.........

Read this story, and
Follow the recommendation at
The end.....

As I was walking
Down life's highway
Many years ago

I came upon a
Sign that read

Heavens Grocery Store.

When I got a
Little closer

The doors swung
Open wide

And when I came
To myself

I was standing
Inside.

I saw a host of
Angels.

They were
Standing everywhere

One handed me a
Basket

An d said 'My
Child shop with care.'

Everything a
Human needed
Was in that
Grocery store

And what you
Could not carry
You could come
Back for more

First I got some
Patience.

Love was in that
Same row.

Further down was
Understanding,
You need that
Everywhere you go.

I got a box or
Two of Wisdom
And Faith a bag
Or two.

And Charity of
Course
I would need some
Of that too.

I couldn't miss
The Holy Ghost
It was all over
The place.

And then some
Strength
And Courage to
Help me run this race.

My basket was
Getting full
But I remembered
I needed Grace,

And then I chose
Salvation for
Salvation was for
Free

I tried to get
Enough of that to do
For you and me.

Then I started to
The counter
To pay my grocery
Bill,

For I thought I
Had everything
To do the Masters
Will.

As I went up the
Aisle
I saw Prayer and
Put that in,

For I knew when I
Stepped outside
I would run into
Sin.

Peace and Joy
Were plentiful,
The last things
On the shelf.

Song and Praise
Were hanging near
So I just helped
Myself.

Then I said to
The angel

'Now how much do
I owe?'

He smiled and
Said

'Just take them
Everywhere you go.'

Again I asked
'Really now,

How much do I
Owe?'

'My child' he
Said, 'God paid your bill
A long long time
Ago.'

Special Delivery

May the Lord open up


the windows of heaven

and pour you a blessing

that you will not have room

enough to receive it all.





May the Lord bless

you exceedingly and abundantly,

above all you could ever hope for.



May the Lord bless you

that you may walk in a

financial overflow.



May you fall in love with Him

for the rest of your days

in the Name of Jesus.

Amen!